Document Tools Engineer - #1661791

Document Tools Engineer
Location: Remote (occasional on-site meetings required)- London
Type: Part-Time Contract (20 hours/week)
Rate: £45–£55 per hour (Outside IR35)
Start Date: ASAP
End Date: March 2026
About the Role
This role focuses on the design and development of a new standalone desktop application in Python, intended to replace and enhance a legacy Excel-based workflow management tool. The new application will support and extend our structured content workflows, with a specific emphasis on DITA.
Referring to building a modern Python-based desktop application that enables improved task management, automation, and integration across our DITA-based publishing pipeline. While understanding and referencing existing VBA logic may occasionally be necessary, the goal is to modernize, extend, and reimagine the current functionality rather than replicate it.
Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain a Python-based desktop tool to manage and streamline DITA workflows, replacing an existing Excel-based solution.
• Collaborate with content creators, information architects, and publishing teams to ensure the tool meets real-world workflow needs.
• Develop scripts and utilities that enhance structured content processing, publishing, and delivery.
• Integrate with the DITA Open Toolkit (DITA-OT), customize Oxygen XML frameworks, and support content automation pipelines.
• Contribute to the ongoing improvement of structured content authoring and publishing practices.

Key Skills and Experience

• 
  Strong practical knowledge of DITA, demonstrated through hands-on development of tools and scripts that improve workflows, enable automation, and support structured content publishing.
• 
  Proficiency in Python, especially for developing standalone desktop applications and automating publishing workflows.
• 
  Skilled in XSL, CSS, and related technologies used in transforming and styling structured content for web delivery.
• Experience customizing and extending the Oxygen XML Editor environment, including framework development and DITA-OT integration.
• Familiarity with Git-based version control, structured content repositories, and content management systems.
• Understanding of modern programming methodologies, including Agile development, RESTful APIs, and automation best practices.
• Ability to interpret and translate legacy VBA logic as needed, with a focus on evolving it into more maintainable, scalable solutions.

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